Retractable bed table means



Oct. 27, 1970 J. M. WOODS RETRACTABLE BED TABLE MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17, 1968 INVENTOR.

JAMES M. wooos QM mm NHL. M .FN f3 E J. M. WOODS RETRACTABLE BED TABLE MEANS Oct. 27, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1968 INVENTOR.

JAMES M. WOODS BY yin/KM Oct. 27, 1970 J. M. woons RETRACTABLE BED TABLE MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed July 17, 1968 FIG. II

6 INVENTOR. JAMES M. wooos Oct; 27, 1970 m woops 3,535,720

RETRACTABLE BED TABLE MEANS Filed July l7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m b r""-" a a a i m r-cm H i i i I I n I -90 J L J INVENTOR. JAMES M. WOODS BY dd am a:

United States Patent 3,535,720 RETRACTABLE BED TABLE MEANS James M. Woods, 1446 Chestnut St., Forrest City, Ark. 72335 Filed July 17, 1968, Ser. No. 745,560 Int. Cl. A47b 23/00 US. Cl. -332 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Table apparatus particularly adapted for attachment on and for use with a hospital bed. The table apparatus includes an upright stanchion having a skewable table top adapted for skewing movement laterally relative to the bed and from a horizontal in-use position to a lowered vertical position alongside the upright stanchion. The table apparatus including also means for turning the vertical stanchion (along with the lowered vertical tabular top) 90 to a horizontal configuration, and further including power means including electric motor means for selectively moving the table top to and from raised and lowered configurations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Relates to bed tables generally and particularly to such tables adapted for securement on a bed structure particularly a hospital-type bed structure.

Description of the prior art Bed tables adapted for hospital use typically are of the following general designs: (1) Bed table structures having a table top adapted to extend fully across a bed and having carriage means arranged on opposite sides of the bed for displacing the table top between the head and foot portions of the bed. Pat. No. 2,483,920 illustrates a hospital bed table of such design. (2) Bed tables having a table top which is supported from one side only of a bed; bed tables of such design typically include a single rail member mounted on one side only of the bed for supporting the table top for movement between the head and foot portions of the bed. Pat. No. 2,709,818 illustrates a bed table of such design. The present invention pertains particularly to bed tables of the latter-mentioned general type. (3) Also, many hospitals, nursing homes or like institutions still utilize a bed table which is not attachable to a bed but is a separate piece of furniture. Bed tables of this sort typically are generally C-shaped and include rollers adapted to be rolled underneath the bed with the table surface over the bed for use by the patient. A bed table which is a separate piece of furniture and which may be rolled about a hospital room, may have several advantages; however, the use of such a table presents problems of substantial significance: (l) The typical hospital room is rather small and cramped and typically has rather limited floor space. A typical hospital bed which is a separate piece of furniture occupies several square feet of floor space and often interferes with free movement of patients, visitors, doctors, nurses and hospital personnel. The hospital table is often used as a general catch-all for clothes, magazines, flowers, and other items which causes the room to have a cluttered and unkempt appearance.

A very significant problem, particularly to a patient in a hospital, is the difficulty in properly manipulating a hospital table to a position for use. Not infrequently, a patient may be substantially incapacitated or be in such a condition that he may not readily be able to manipulate a bed table. At certain times, a patient may want to move ice or adjust a bed table, and the attendant who typically provides this service is not at hand. If a patient is alone in the hospital room at such a time, he may not be able to adjust or move the table and this may cause some discomfort. Moreover, in adjusting a bed table of a patient, an attendants time or services may be taken from other patients perhaps having more urgent needs. It is a general practice in many hospitals to shift or move hospital patients and beds from room to room. In such instances, a bed table is generally moved along with a bed and the movement of the table requires the time and service of hospital attendants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an electrically operative bed table adapted for permanent securement on a side of a hospital bed. By energizing a pair of electric motors, the bed table top is adapted to be first laterally skewed to a vertical position alongside of the bed and then turned edgewise along a vertical plane toward the head of the bed and to a horizontal and stored configuration. The bed table top may be desirably positioned by the patient pressing an electric switch button; the electrically energized table may be positioned in an in-use or stored position without the service of an attendant. The bed table, being normally disposed in a stored disposition, occupies minimum floor space and does not interfere with free movement of the patient, visitors, or hospital personnel. A neat appearing hospital room is encouraged since, when in a stored disposition, the bed table of the invention will not serve to support or retain clothes, magazines, fiowers or other such personal items. Since the bed table of the invention is adapted for permanent securement on a hospital bed, movement of the bed also moves the bed table; transferring a hospital bed from one room to another does not require the movement of a table and thus additional services of a hospital attendant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is substantially a side elevational view of the hospital bed table means of the present invention with the table top being arranged in a horizontal in-use configuration.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the bed table means as viewed from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical plane sectional View of the upper parts of the bed table apparatus taken as on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bed table apparatus illustrated as being attached to a hospital bed (fragmentarily shown) and with the table top of the bed table structure being arranged in a lowered vertical configuration.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the bed table structure illustrating the table top being arranged in a stored configuration.

FIG. 6 is a vertical plane enlarged sectional view taken as on the line VIVI of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal plane sectional view taken as on the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal plane enlarged sectional view taken as on the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a vertical plane sectional view taken as on the line IXIX of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a vertical plane sectional view of the bed table top assembly taken as on the line XX of FIG. 1 but illustrating a table top work panel being arranged in a hinged open disposition.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but illustrating a second work panel in a pivotally open raised disposition.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of the electric motors and wiring circuits of the invention.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The retractable bed table apparatus is indicated by numeral 11 and is adapted to be used with a hospital bed having a headboard H, a footboard F, and mattress M.

Bed table apparatus 11 includes basically a carriage 13; carriage rail means 15 supporting carriage 13 in translational horizontal movement; upright stanchion means 17; first retract means 19 turnably mounting stanchion means 17 on carriage 13; a fiat tabular top 21; and second retract means 23 movably mounting top 21 on the upper portion of stanchion means 17. Bed table apparatus 11 is adapted to be operatively moved between an in-use position (see FIG. 1) wherein tabular top 21 is arranged horizontally and transversely across bed mattress M and a stored position (see FIG. wherein tabular top 21 is arranged in a vertical plane and parallelling carriage rail means 15.

Rail means includes a tubular square-sectioned rail member 25 firmly supported respectively on opposite end portions by bracket means 27, 27' arranged respectively at the head and foot portion of bed B and firmly secured on rigid structure of the bed. Rail member 25 is arranged in a laterally tilted or turned configuration with a diagonal cross-sectional axis of the rail member being arranged in a vertical plane, as best seen in FIG. 1.

Carriage 13 includes inner and outer parallel arranged side plates 29, 31 and inner and outer upper and lower confrontingly coactingly arranged pairs of rollers 33 journaled respectively on shafts 35 and arranged between carriage side plates 29, 31. The confronting inside surfaces respectively of rollers 33 each are preferably beveled and each roller engages a respective oblique lateral surface of square-sectioned rail member 25. Carriage 13 is adapted for translational displacement to and fro along rail member 25 but is constrained against clockwisecounterclockwise movement in a vertical plane lying normal to the rail member. Upright stanchion means 17 includes inner lower stanchion means 37 and outer upper stanchion means 39 telescopically fitted and relatively axially displaceable. A right angular pivot bar 41 firmly secured on one end portion thereof to the lower end portion of lower stanchion means 37 turnably mounts stanchion means 17 on carriage 13. One end portion of pivot bar 41 extends horizontally through carriage side plates 29, 31 and is turnably supported subjacently of rail member 25 by bearings 43.

Inner lower stanchion means 37 includes a tubular square-sectioned lower stanchion member 45 adapted to telescopically coact with upper stanchion means 37 and includes turnlock means 47 including upper and lower relatively turnably arranged lock elements 49, 51 and manually operative interlock means 53 adapted for coaction between lock elements 49, 51 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

Upper lock element 49 includes a plate-like disk 55 permanently secured perpendicularly on the lower edge terminus of lower stanchion member 45, and includes a large short pivot shaft 57 extending normally vertically through a central aperture 59 in disk 55. The upper end portion of shaft 57 projects upwardly into the lower interior of lower stanchion member 45 and is fixedly secured by bolt-like support members 61 extending through diametric apertures 65 formed in the upper end portion of pivot shaft 57; bolt-like supports 61 project respectively through pivot shaft 57 and inner and outer opposite side portions of lower stanchion member 45 and integrally secure shaft 57 and the stanchion member.

Lower turnlock element 51 includes a cylindrical sleeve 67 and a flat circular disk 69 corresponding in size and shape with disk 55 of upper turnlock element 49. Disk 69 is fixedly secured across the upper edge portion of sleeve 67 with a central aperture 71 of the disk being in alignment with the inner cylindrical surface 73 of sleeve 67. Upper and lower lock elements 49, 51 are turnably arranged together with pivot shaft 57 turnably extending downwardly through sleeve 67. A capscrew and washer assembly 75, 77 are arranged respectively on the lower end of pivot shaft 57 and prevents upward axial displacement of upper turnlock element shaft 57 from lower turnlock element sleeve 67. The distal end portion of distal leg 79 of right angular pivot bar 41 is fixedly secured perpendicularly to an intermediate portion of sleeve 67. The proximal leg 81 of pivot bar 41 turnably extends through paired bearings 43 and pivot bar proximal leg 81 defines substantially a pivot axis about which stanchion means 17 moves.

Interlock means 53 prevents relative rotational displacement between upper and lower turnlock elements 49, 51 and includes an L-shaped plunger 83 vertically shiftably mounted in a short tubular housing 85 fixed vertically on the upper surface of upper turnlock element disk 55. The vertical shank portion 87 of plunger 83 extends downwardly through annular shoulder portion 89 of housing 85. A coiled compression spring 91 concentrically fitted about plunger shank 87, and a pin 93 diametrically extending through shank 87 yieldably urges plunger 83 downwardly. A pair of aligned lock apertures 95, 97 formed respectively in circumferential portions of upper and lower disk members 55, 69 is adapted to receive the distal lower end portion of plunger shank 87 and to interlock first and second turnlock elements 49, 51.

Second, third and fourth apertures 97', 97", 97" are also preferably provided in lower turnlock element disk 69 for selective engagement with the distal end portion of plunger shank 87. Apertures 97, 97, 97", 97 are preferably arranged circumferentially apart and provide means for fixing the relative rotational displacement of upper and lower lock elements 49, 51 at four relatively fixed positions: With plunger shank S7 engaging first aperture 97, flat tabular top 21 of the bed table apparatus will be arranged transversely over bed B and in an in-use disposition. Lifting upwardly on handle portion 99 of plunger 83 permits rotational displacement of upper turn-lock element 49 and horizontal swinging movement of fiat tabular top 21; with shank 87 engaged in second aperture 97, tabular top 21 will be arranged parallel and alongside the head portion of bed B; with shank portion 87 engaged in third aperture 97" of lower element disk 69, tabular top 21 will be arranged outwardly and in cantilever fashion from bed B; with shank 87 engaged in aperture 97", tabular top 21 will be arranged parallel alongside the foot portion of bed B. Lifting plunger handle 99 and turnably manipulating stanchion means 17 permits selective adjustment of fiat tabular top 21 of the apparatus to a desired position.

Outer upper stanchion means 39 includes a squaresectioned tubular upper stanchion member 101 having the lower end portion 103 thereof freely fitted over the upstanding major portion 105 of lower stanchion member 45 (see FIG. 3). Oppositely conversely arranged pairs of rollers 107, which are preferably resilient, are arranged respectively in the interior of upstanding major portion 105 of lower stanchion member 45 to provide anti-friction means for relative vertical displacement of upper and lower stanchion members 103, 45. Paired rollers 107 are mounted respectively on horizontal shafts 109 fixedly secured in parallel arrangement in the upper interior of lower stanchion member 45. The oppositely facing outside circumferential portions respectively of inward and outward rollers 107 extend respectively through apertures 111 in lower stanchion member 45 and rollingly engage the interior opposite wall surfaces respectively of upper stanchion member 103.

Horizontal partition plates 113, 115 fixedly' secured respectively bridgingly across the upper interiors respectively of lower and upper stanchion members 45, 103 compressingly engage a counterweight spring 117. The counterweight spring coactingly operative bet-ween upper and lower stanchion members 103, 45 provides means for urging the upper stanchion member upwardly against the force of gravity.

Adjustable latch means 119 adapted for lockingly interconnecting upper and lower stanchion members 103, 45 provides means for selectively regulating the height of the upper stanchion (see FIG. 8). A plunger member 121 operatively received in a shouldered sleeve 123 fixedly secured horizontally on an intermediate portion of the inward side wall of movable upper stanchion member 103 is adapted to be manually manipulated for selective adjustment of the movable upper stanchion member. A

compression spring 125 convolutely fitted about plunger 123 and a pin 127 extending diametrically through the plunger provide means for yieldably urging the plunger into an engaged relationship with an aperture 129 formed in the side wall of lower stanchion member major portion 105. A series of vertically spaced apertures 129, 129', 129 are adapted to receive respectively plunger 121 and adjustably regulate the height of tabular table top 21.

Table top 21 includes inner and outer stationary horizontally planar sections 131, 133 and a movable planar center section 135. A pair of horizontally parallel confrontingly opening U-sectional channel members 137, 137 define substantially means for horizontally supporting inner, outer and center sections 131, 133, 135 of tabular top 21. Angle clip members 139, 139', fixedly secured by rivets 141, 141 respectively to channel members 137, 137' are fixed respectively to the undersurfaces of inner and outer stationary planar sections 131, 133 and secure the planar sections inoperative relationship (see FIG. 9).

Center planar section -135 includes a recessed upwardly opening pan-like receptacle 143 arranged between channel members 137, 137', and includes'upper and lower panels 145, 147 arranged normally in over and under relationship and hingedly secured respectively on opposite edge portions of tabular top 21 (see FIGS. and 11).

Hinge means 149 pivotally interconnect corresponding lateral edge portions respectively of upper and lower panels 145, 147 and provides means for lifting upper panel 145 away from the lower panel (see FIG. 11). Hinge means 151 hingedly secures both upper and lower panels together for simultaneous movement and pivotally secures upper and lower panels along the outward edge portion of channel member 137 (see FIG. 10). Detent clips 153, 155 fixed respectively on channel member 137 and lower panel 147 provide means for frictionally yieldably holding upper and lower panels 145, 147 respectively in closed portions. The detent means for holding upper and lower panels 145, 147 in closed dispositions is mainly useful when bed table apparatus tabular top assembly 21 is being moved from a raised in-use position to a lowered stored position. Such detent means prevents the respective panel members from swinging out- -wardly as the tabular top is moved from a horizontal to a vertical disposition.

A rocker head 157 is pivotally secured in outwardly offset configuration on the upper end portion of upper stanchion means 39 (see FIGS. 3 and 9). Rocker head 157 is generally U-shaped and includes a horizontal flat portion 159 and left and right end portions 161, 161. A pair of angle brackets 163, 163' are subjacently secured respectively on the undersurface of rocker head horizontal portion 159; rivets 165, 165 extending respectively through horizontal web portions 167, 167' of brackets 163, 163 fixedly secure the brackets in corresponding oppositely facing relationship. A pivot pin 169 extending respectively through aligned apertures in vertical web portions 171, 171 of angle brackets 163, 163', and through the upper end portion of upper stanchion member 101 pivotally secures rocker head 157 on upright stanchion means 17. The relative arrangements of parts and the location of pivot pin 169 is such that when rocker head 157 is arranged horizontally, the undersurface thereof will abuttingly engage upper edge 173 of the inward face wall of stanchion member 101 (see FIG. 3). Such stop means permit tabular top 21 to be supported cantilever fashion from stanchion means 17 when the top is arranged in an in-use disposition.

Guide track and roller means arranged respectively on top 21 and rocker head 157 afford means for guidingly constraining the top in translational bidirectional movement along a plane lying above and paralled to the axis of the rocker head: An inner pair of flanged rollers 175, 175 and an outer pair of flanged rollers 177, 177' are journalled respectively on axle bolts 179, 179', 181, 181' fixedly extending respectively through vertical side portions 161, 161' of rocker head 157. Rollers 175, 175'; 177, 177 project oppositely outwardly respectively from rocker head vertical portions 161, 161 and are runningly received respectively in confrontingly arranged channel members 137, 137' of tabular top 21. Channel members 137, 137' define substantially the guide track means of guide track and roller means of top 21 and in addition to providing frame means for integrally securing the top assembly also provides track means for translational displacement of the top relative to the upright stanchion means of the apparatus.

Yoke means 183 articulatingly interconnect stanchion means 17 and tabular top assembly 21: A pair of link members 185, 185 are arranged respectively on opposite sides of upright stanchion means 17 and correspondingly coactingly interconnect the inward end portion of tabular top 21 with upper stanchion member 101 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 9). The lower proximal end portions respectively of link members 185, 185' are pivotally secured respectively by coaxially aligned pins 187, 187' fixed respectively in parallel tab portions 189, 189' of a horizontal bracket 191 fixedly secured on the lower portion of the inward side Wall of upper stanchion member 101. The upper distal end portions respectively of link members 185, 185 are pivotally secured respectively by aligned pins 193, 193' extending respectively through parallel tab portions 195, 195 of angle clips 197, 197 fixedly secured respectively by rivets 199, 199 on the inward side surface of horizontal cross member 201 of tabular top 21 (see FIGS. 3 and 9).

The tabular top 21 is adapted to be moved laterally skewingly to and from a horizontal raised position and a vertical lowered position alongside of upright stanchion means 17. The simultaneous translational straight line movement of top 21 along rocker head rollers 175, 175, 177, 177' and the pivotal movement of link members 185, 185 causes compound action on the tabular top and causes the top to be moved in a sweeping are as it is moved between horizontal and vertical positions.

First retract means 19 preferably includes a clockwisecounterclockwise operative drive means such as a motor driven screw and follower or gearmotor 203 fixedly secured on inner side plate 29 of carriage 13. Gearmotor 203 is drivingly coupled with distal leg 81 of right angular pivot bar 41 and provides power means for moving stanchion means 17 from a vertical disposition (see FIG. 2) to a horizontal disposition (see FIG. 5). Pivot bar 41 preferably is formed in right angular configuration in order to provide sufiicient elevation of top 21 when the top and stanchion means are in a horizontal stored configuration as in FIG. 5; the offset axis arrangement atforded by right angular pivot bar 41 permits the under edge 205 (see FIG. 5) of top 21 to be clear of the bed supporting floor when the apparatus is arranged in a stored configuration. In certain embodiments of the invention (not shown) it may be desirable to form the pivot bar (41) of straight configuration with the distal end portion of the bar being fixedly secured in a T-arrangement on the lower turnlock element cylindrical sleeve (67). Such an arrangement may be permitted in certain embodiments wherein the bed structure is arranged a substantial distance above floor level.

Second retract means 23 for retracting table top 21 from a horizontal to a vertical position includes a long wormshaft 207 arranged subjacently of inner, outer and center sections 131, 133, 135 of tabular top 21. Inner and outer ball-type bearings 209, 211 journal respectively opposite end portions of wormshaft 207 and stationarily journal the wormshaft in the top. Inner and outer cross members 213, 215 respectively bridgedly fixedly secure respectively opposite end portions of left and right channel members 137, 137' and support respectively inner and outer wormshaft bearings 209, 211. A pair of wormshaft nuts 217 are threadedly engaged on wormshaft 207 and are firmly secured in coaxial alignment on the inside surface of vertical leg 161 of rocker head 157. Gusset structure 219 provides reinforcement means for wormshaft nuts 217 and firmly secure the nuts along the inside surface of rocker head vertical flange 161'.

Clockwise-counterclockwise rotative movement of wormshaft 207 causes relative translational displacement of table top planar sections 131, 133, 135 and rocker head 157; wormshaft 207 provides jack means for relative translational displacement and for simultaneously causing pivotal movement of link members 185, 1-85 of yoke means 183: Counterclockwise movement of wormshaft 207 (as viewed from the left end in FIG. 3) causes rocker head mounted wormshaft nuts 217 and crossmember 215 to be divergingly moved and causes table top 21 to be moved in a swinging arc skewingly and to a vertical disposition. Conversely, clockwise rotation of wormshaft 207 causes the table top to be moved from a vertical to a horizontal position.

A clockwise-counterclockwise rotative gearmotor 221 is mounted subjacently of inner planar section 131 of top 21 and between channel members 137, 137. Gearmotor 221 is drivingly coupled with the inner end portion of wormshaft 207 by coupling 223 and provides power means for raising and lowering the table top.

Bed table apparatus 11 preferably includes electric switch means responsive to various movements of the apparatus, and operative in sequential order for causing sequential actuation respectively of first and second retract means 19, 23. The bed table apparatus preferably includes timing means for causing sequential movements respectively of stanchion means 17 and tabular top 21 and for causing sequential movements respectively of the top from a raised horizontal, to a lowered vertical disposition, and then for movement of stanchion means 17 from a vertical to a horizontal configuration. FIG. 12 illustrates schematically the general arrangement of such means for effecting the above-mentioned functions: Three rotary-type switches 225; and 227, 229' are mechanically coupled respectively with pins 187, 187' and pivot bar 41. Switch 225 preferably is a rotary-type gang switch having switch elements S3, S4 and S7. Switch 225 and thus switch elements S3, S4, S7 are mechanically coupled respectively to pins 187, 187 and are actuated by pivotal up and down movement of link members 185, 1 85. Switches 227, 229 preferably are coupled in simultaneous movement respectively to distal leg 81 of pivot bar 41 and are responsive respectively to the 90 turning movement of stanchion means 17 to and from vertical and horizontal positions. Switch 227 preferably is a rotarytype switch having two switch elements S and S6. Switch 229 preferably has only a single switch element S8. Switches S1 and S2 respectively are normally open pushbutton type switches. The push-button switches S1 and S2 are adapted one or the other tobe selectively actuated for initiating the up or down movement of table top 21 and the sequential actions of switches 225, 227, 229.

The following is a brief description of the operation of the apparatus and the sequential functioning of the various parts thereof:

Starting from the up position with top 21 arranged in a horizontal position, push-button switch S1 is depressed, switch S3 is closed at this time and a completed circuit energizes motor 221 to cause the top tomove towards a vertical disposition. As the top reaches a vertical disposition, S3 is opened and S7 is closed which energizes motor 203 and causes telescopic stanchion means 17 to be moved 90 to a horizontal disposition. At a short inter- 8 val before stanchion means 17 reaches a horizontal disposition, switch element S5 is opened. The user of the apparatus releases pushbutton S1 and the apparatus is arranged in a stored disposition.

To arrange the apparatus in an in-use disposition with table top horizontal, S2 push-buttom is depressed. Switch element S6 being closed, completed a circuit through motor 203 and the actuated motor moves telescopic stanchion means 17 to a vertical disposition. Shortly before the stanchion means reaches a vertical disposition, S8 is closed which energizes motor 221 a sufficient interval to cause which element S4 to close. When top 21 reaches a horizontal position, the user of the apparatus releases push-button switch S2 and the apparatus is arranged in an in-use configuration.

It will be understood that in certain embodiments of the invention the use of rotary-type electric switches mechanically coupled with moving parts of the apparatus may not be desirable; in certain embodiments (not shown) it may be desirable to dispense with the sequential timed operation of the gearmotor means of the apparatus; simplified electric circuit and switch means may be utilized in certain embodiments and the user of the device, simply by pressing or releasing a push-button for each gearmotor (203, 221) may cause the first and second retract means of the apparatus to be operative.

Moreover, in certain embodiments it may be desirable to dispense with power means for actuation of the first and second retract means. In certain economy models of the apparatus it may be desirable to dispense with the gearmotor drive means 203 and the gearmotor and wormshaft drive means 221, 207; in such an economy model the user of the apparatus would simply manually move the table top from a horizontal to a vertical position, and the stanchion means from a vertical to a horizontal position. Also, in certain embodiments it may be desirable to dispense with upper and lower hinged panels 145, 147 on top 21 and to provide the top with a plain fiat surface.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will of course be understood that various changes and modifications in structure of the apparatus may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Retractable bed table means comprising rail means including a carriage rail member adapted to be stationarily horizontally supported from a bed structure adjacent a side thereof, carriage means movably mounted on said carriage rail member adapted for translational displacement to and fro along said rail member but constrained against clockwise-counterclockwise movement in a vertical plane lying normal to said rail member, upright stanchion means, first retract means turnably mounting said stanchion means on said carriage for movement between vertical and horizontal positions in a plane lying substantially parallel to said rail member, a tabular top, and second retract means movably mounting said top and said stanchion means for movement between a raised configuration wherein said top is arranged horizontally and transversely across the bed and a lowered configuration wherein said top is arranged vertically substantially closely alongside of said stanchion means, said table means being adapted to be operatively moved between an in-use position wherein said tabular top is arranged horizontally and transversely across said bed and a stored position wherein said tabular top is arranged in a vertical plane and horizontally adjacent said rail; said first retract means turnably mounting said stanchion means from said carriage including a generally right angular pivot bar having a first end portion thereof turnably mounted in said carriage on a horizontal axis and a second end portion fixedly secured in relative perpendicular arrangement on the lower portion of said upright stanchion means; said second retract means turnably mounting said top on said stanchion means for movement between a raised and a lowered configuration including rocker head means rockably mounted on the upper end of said stanchion means on an axis extending substantially parallel with said carriage rail member, guide track and roller means arranged respectively on said tabular top and said rocker plate means guidingly constraining said top in translational bidirectional movement along a plane lying above and parallel to the axes of said rocker plate means and in translational bidirectional movement in a path lying normal to the axis of said rocker plate means, and yoke means articulatingly interconnected between said stanchion means and said rocker plate means, a proximal end portion of said yoke means being pivotally connected to said stanchion means on a stationary first axis, the distal end portion of said yoke means being pivotally connected to said tabular top on an axis lying parallel' with and spaced a substantial distance from the mounting axis of said rocker head means; said tabular top being adapted to be moved laterally skewingly, by compound actions to and from said vertical and horizontal positions by simultaneous translational movement of said guide track along said guide rollers and in arced pivotal movement of said movable axis of said yoke means about the stationary axis of said yoke means.

2. The retractable bed table means of claim 1 wherein said stanchion means includes inner lower stanchion and outer upper stanchion means telescopically fitted and relatively axially displaceable, the lower end portion of said inner lower stanchion means being firmly secured to said pivot bar, the upper end portion of said outer upper stanchion means pivotally tiltably supporting said rocker plate, said outer upper stanchion means also aifording support means for the pivot axis on the proximal end of said yoke means, adjustable latch means horizontally operatively adapted for lockingly interconnecting said inner and outer stanchion means and for adustably selectively regulating the height of said upper stanchion rneans relative to said lower stanchion means, and includes counterweight spring means coactingly operative between said upper and lower stanchion means for urging said upper stanchion means upwardly and against the force of gravity.

3. The retractable bed table means of claim 2 wherein said lower stanchion means includes an upstanding major portion adapted to telescopically coact with said upper stanchion means in relative translational vertical movement and includes also turnlock means including relatively vertically coaxially aligned closely coupled relatively oppositely displaceable first and second lock elements, said first lock element being unitarily formed with the lower portion of said major portion, said second lock element being rigidly connected to said pivot bar, and includes selectively manually operative interlock means adapted for coaction between said first and second lock elements for selectively fixing the rotative displacement of said first and second lock elements at at least two relatively fixed positions, the relative arrangement of parts of said lower stanchion means being such that in a first position of said two relatively fixed positions of said first and second look elements, said tabular top, when in an in-use horizontally planar configuration, is arranged crosswise over said carriage rail, and when said lock elements are arranged in the other position, said top being arranged horizontally planar, and along the longitudinal center portion thereof, said top being arranged along a vertical plane parallelling said carriage rail.

4. The retractable bed table means of claim 3 wherein said rail means includes a long horizontal square-sectioned rail member stationarily mounted from the bed structure in a laterally tilted configuration with a diagonal cross-sectional axis of the rail member being arranged in a vertical plane, and wherein said carriage includes a parallel pair of vertical side plates arranged each plate parallel and on opposite sides of the rail member, and includes inner and outer upper and lower confrontingly coactingly arranged pairs of rollers journalled each roller on the inside of a respective side plate and rollingly engaging an oblique lateral surface of the square-sectioned rail member, and wherein said first end portion of said right angular pivot bar extends horizontally through and is turnably supported from said parallel pair of side plates and is arranged subjacently of said rail member.

5. The retractable bed table means of claim 4 wherein said first retract means includes electric clockwise-counterclockwise rotative means mounted on a side plate of said carriage and operatively coupled with said first end portion of said right angular pivot bar, and switch means for actuating said electric rotative means clockwise-counterclockwise respectively for powered movement of said stanchion means between a vertical and a horizontal position.

6. The retractable bed table means of claim 5 wherein said second retract means includes a long wormshaft, bearing means arranged on opposite end portions of said wormshaft stationarily journalling said wormshaft on the underside of said tabular top and above and crosswise of the pivot axis of said rocker head means, wormshaft nut means threadedly engaged on said wormshaft and firmly secured superjacently on said rocker head means, clockwise-connterclockwise rotative electric motor means supported on said tabular top at a location remote from said rocker head pivot axis, means coupling the output shaft of said motor means with said Wormshaft, and switch means for actuating said electric motor means for clockwise-counterclockwise rotative movement of said wormshaft and relative axial displacement of said Wormshaft and said wormshaft nut means; relative translational bidirectional axial movement of said wormshaft and said wormshaft nut means being adapted to cause generally arced skewing movement of said tabular top between a horizontal raised and a vertical lowered position.

7. The retractable bed table means of claim 6 wherein said switch means respectively of said first and second retract means includes timing means for causing sequential movements respectively of said stanchion means and said tabular top in the movement of said tabular top between a horizontally planar in-use configuration and a vertically planar horizontally extending stored configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,818 6/1955 Freese 5332 3,042,937, 7/1962 Young 5-332 3,054,122 9/1962 Sarkus 5--332 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner 

